Auckland Gay Pride Festival in New Zealand

Home to roughly one of every three New Zealanders, the nation's largest city is Auckland (population 1.5 million). It also supports its largest and most visible gay scene, much of which is anchored along Karangahape Road (aka K Road).

Auckland has the nation's busiest international airport with frequent direct flights from Melbourne, Hong Kong, Sydney, and a number of other Pacific Rim cities. Auckland is also where many visitors begin their explorations of New Zealand, and it's definitely worth a stop, especially if you're planning a trip in February and are interested in attending festive gay pride events.

The Auckland Pride Festival is a two-week string of celebrations and arts and cultural events. It typically consists of a variety of events, including an opening pride gala. The gaiety continues with Heroic Gardens Festival, LYC Bear Week, LYC Big Gay Out, and the Auckland Pride Parade on the final weekend. Note that Christchurch Gay Pride typically takes place just a bit later, likely in mid- to late March.

Gay-Friendly Places and Events

The city's bars and other hangouts popular with gay folks will also be extra busy and festive throughout February. You can find out more on the Auckland gay scene from the Nighttours Gay Auckland Travel Guide, the NZ newspaper Gay Express, the nationwide gay website GayNZ.com, and Rainbow Tourism's Auckland Gay & Lesbian guide. Also helpful for general travel help is the official Auckland Tourism website.